The sinkhole that has repeatedly gobbled up the asphalt at the intersection on 96th street and West End Avenue returned this week, causing the street to droop once again. A cone was placed in the middle of the intersection on Wednesday morning and the street was patched up by the afternoon. Bill Hindin, who sent in the photos above and below, suggests we rename the intersection “Morningside Caverns.” Tourists will love it!
A spokesman for the Department of Environmental Protection, which has been handling this issue, did not respond to a request for comment. Last we checked in April, the DEP had said the water main that had caused the problem was “fully repaired.”
WEA from 95 – 98 has been a maze of maintenance trucks. They parked a few on the side street to complete the chaotic condition.
The sinkholes at 105th and CPW and 105th between CPW & Manhattan (closer to Manhattan) are back as well. A little heat and it all seems to melt. They may need to tweak their tar/asphalt mixture.
The problem is with the soil supporting the asphalt. There is likely erosion along a storm pipe below grade that is creating a void. The heavy rain earlier in the week probably contributed to the issue.
So it’s the asphalt, then?
Well, I knew it wasn’t my fault.
The problem on WEA from 97th-98th (E side of street) and earlier from 98th-99th (W side of street) is due to leaking mineral oil that is used to keep electrical conduits cool. They finally found the source of the leak (it was on the E side work area) and are now fixing the leak (that may be finished) and removing the soil that was saturated with the oil.
It’s not mineral oil that is used to cool transformers. It is polychlorinated biphenols or PCBs. But not to worry, the oil leak has been contained and the contamination is being removed.
“It’s not mineral oil that is used to cool transformers. It is polychlorinated biphenols or PCBs.”
PCB’s haven’t been in use since 1979. Contamination lingers but it’s other fluids including mineral oil since then.
Saw plenty of EPA trucks for these PCBs. Sorry for the tenants.
Thanks for your “inside”. One more incentive to use Riverside.
See you around the block neighbor.
Viele Map
T’ain’t the water main… it’s the spring creek that runs under the street. Nature will always win in the end.
Who is responsible and accountable to make this repair and communicate with the people in the community. Who is our contact at DEP? This needs to get fixed properly and now.
fix it already!
This sink-hole ain’t so bad…compared to one near Tampa, Florida that “disappeared” someone and came back for more, as CNN reported last year:
“A massive sinkhole in Florida, which had been filled in, has opened up again — bringing back nightmarish memories of when it swallowed a man two years ago.
In February 2013, the sinkhole first formed under Jeff Bush’s bedroom in the town of Seffner as he turned in for the night. He screamed out for help to his brother Jeremy, who ran into the bedroom to see that Bush and all his furnishings had vanished into the earth.
Jeff Bush’s remains were never recovered.
On Wednesday, the sinkhole — about 20 feet in diameter — opened up again in the Tampa suburb.”
Hmmm…it mistakenly consumed a Floridian named Jeff Bush…MAYBE it was REALLY after ANOTHER J. Bush — the “Low Energy” one, as D(elirium) T(remens) called him in the debates!
If so, how do we get it to migrate over to Palm Beach and consume D.T. ?!?!
You must really feel good about yourself for getting in that little dig at Donald Trump. What a cheap and easy way to distinguish yourself as morally and intellectually superior. One might even call it “preening”…
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You must really feel good about yourself for getting in that little dig at Donald Trump. What a cheap and easy way to distinguish yourself as morally and intellectually superior. One might even call it preening…